Wire clamp



Feb. 21, 1928.

J. A. RAPELJE WIRE CLAMP I Filed Dec. 5. 1925 ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 21,1928.

UNITED STAT ES PATENT OFFICE.

. JOHN A. RAPELJE, 0F BOQNTON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICANTELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

WIRE CLAMP.

Application filed December 3, 1925 Serial No. 73,001.

This invention relates to improvements in clamps particularly adaptedfor use in clamping or supporting wires together, especially thoseemployed for conducting electric currents.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved device ofthis class having efiicient and durable clamping means for securing thewire without injury to the wires, and which may be readily adapted foruse with different sizes of wires or conductors.

A further object consists in providing a' device of comparatively simpleand inexpensive construction which may be readily and quickly applied towires or cables when they are in a desired position.

These and further objects will be apparent from the followingdescription when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing,in which one embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

Referring to the drawing, Figure 1 illustrates a side elevation of theimproved clamp with wires positioned therein; Fig. 2 is an end viewtaken on the line 22 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows,and Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the clamp in open position withwire placed therein.

The clamp may be composed from suit able metal such as brass or thelike, and its members may be of any desired length and thickness.

In the drawing, the lower portion of the clamp is indicated ascomprising aflat bottom portion with an upturned flange '5 on one sideand a parallel extension 6 on the opposite or rear side of the clamp. Alongitudinal groove 7 is formed between. the members 5 and 6, and may beof any desired width-and depth, and while in the presentinstance thisgroove is shown as substantially square formation, it may be rounded orotherwise suitably shaped.

A lip ext-ends upwardly from the center section of the flange 5. and isbent outwardly therefrom to form a tubular portion 8, as more clearlyindicated in Fig. 2. The tubular portion 8 has a substantially U-sha-pedbolt or clip 9 pivotally mounted therein, and the extremities of thebolt member in operative position extend vertically from their pivotedportion, and pass through suitable apertures such as U-shaped slots 11in a fiat rectangular clamping plate 12. These er:- tremiti es arepreferably screw-threaded, and are adapted to receive nuts 13, whichrest flatly against the upper surface of the clamping plate. Theclamping plate 12 as shown in Figsi 1 and 2-lies in a horizontal planewhen in closed position, and is hinged at its rear portion as indicated,or in any other desired manner. When the plate 12 is in closed position,it covers the longitudinal groove in the clamp.

The ends of the bottom portion of groove 7 and clamping plate 12 arepreferably flared, such as for example, by the provision of curved lips14 which are oppositely positioned with respect to each other on theends of said members. The members 14: are provided for the purpose ofeffecting a gradual release of the clamping pressure exerted on the wireor wires contained within the clamp, and thus prevent any sharp bend orutting of the wires or their covering at the points where they leave theclamp.

To attach the clamp to wires or cables, the nuts may be loosened so thatthe extremities of the bolt member disengage the slots in which they arepositioned, and permit the outward and downward pivotal movement of saidbolt, and thus allow the clamping plate to be lifted so that the clampis in open position. The wires are inserted in the clamp so that theyare seated in the longitudinal groove, after which the bolt isturnedupwardly so that its extremities are positioned in the slots in theclamping plate. The nuts are then turned and tightened against the upperflat surface of said plate to force said plate downwardly upon theseated wires with sufficient pressure to se' curely clamp the wires inposition within the improved device. 7

With this improved construction it will be apparent that the wires maybe readily inserted in the clamp by the use of one hand,

.while the other hand is left free to tighten downed, and the use ofwire lashing or tie wire is eliminated.

While the arrangements of this invention ha e ee i lustrateda ee d in awe tain specific form which has been deemed sirable, it Will beunderstood that they are capable of embodiment in many and Widely variedforms Without departing from the spirit of the invention, ;as defined 1nthe appended claims.

What is claimed is z 1. In a clamp for Wires, a main portion comprisinga groove forsaid ires, and a hinged member and a pivotal memberassociated With said main portion, said hinged member and pivotal'member cooperating with each other to retain the Wires in clampedposition in saidvgroove, and means associated with said vgroove memberand said hinged member for effecting a gradual release of the clampingpressure'exerted on substantially =U-shape oross- 'section for seatingsaid wires in'a longitudinal position therein, a plate member pivotallyconnected -Witlrthe groove member, and a pivotal member associated withthe side of the groove member and engaging the opposite plate member tohold the wires in clamped pos1- tion between thegroove member and platemember.v

In testimony whereof, I liave signed my name to this specification this-1st day of December 1925.

JOHN A. RAPELJE'.

